retrieving data from old HDD

[McRackin]

I tried hooking up an old HDD to my newer computer. Long story short, I forgot to turn off my computer before hooking it up lol. I saw a spark ignite and I'm basically like, ah shit, its toast.

Is there any way to retrieve the data from the HDD if I shorted it?

 

[drescherjm]

I saw a spark ignite and I'm basically like, ah shit, its toast.

A spark does not mean the drive is dead. Did you somehow manage to put the power cable in backwards or miss the pin alignment or something like that? I have hot swapped drives (even ide) for over a decade with no issues at all.

Is there any way to retrieve the data from the HDD if I shorted it?

If the drive really is shorted out you will have to replace its controller board. You will need a similar drive of the same type and swap the card.

 

[McRackin]

its possible, but i doubt it. the power connectors have plastic clips on the end that make it impossible to put them in backwards

 

[Aesma]

I have done that several times (on purpose) back in the PATA days, stopped after a time when I saw sparks, but never actually killed a drive. So yeah, try again (with the computer off, this time).

 

[BurntToast]

Inspect the PCB. Look for anything that looks burnt. Remove the PCB from the HDD and see the reverse side too.